[The Chinese delegation sought to reaffirm its opposition to what it says are protectionism and unilateralism practices by the United States, especially the American trade tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese goods.]
By
Damien Cave
 |
“The entire world is worried,” said Prime Minister Peter
O’Neill, center, of
about the lack of a joint APEC statement at the annual summit meeting. He gathered with other leaders for a “family photo” on Sunday. Credit Credit Saeed Khan/Agence France- Presse — Getty Images |
The Asia‐Pacific
Economic Cooperation, known as APEC, has not ended without a joint statement
since 1989, when the forum was established in Australia. Experts said the
stalemate would set up a high‐stakes
showdown at the Group of 20 conference in Argentina this month — which
President Xi Jinping of China and President Trump are expected to attend —
while intensifying frustration among countries caught in the crossfire.
“The entire world is worried,” said Prime
Minister Peter O’Neill of Papua New Guinea, after he confirmed that only a
summary of discussion would be issued, not a joint statement.
The disagreement concerned issues that have
shaped the trade dispute between the United States and China for months.
Draft versions of the communiqué seen by The
Associated Press showed that the United States wanted strong language
condemning unfair trade practices like those that it says China regularly
deploys, including restricting market access and pushing foreign companies to
hand over valuable technology.
The Chinese delegation sought to reaffirm its
opposition to what it says are protectionism and unilateralism practices by the
United States, especially the American trade tariffs on hundreds of billions of
dollars’ worth of Chinese goods.
The opposing positions were staked out in
stark terms on Saturday, with combative speeches by Mr. Xi and Vice President
Mike Pence. Both men argued that their country had the best interest of the
region at heart, battling for loyalty within a trade group that represents 60
percent of the global economy.
But they also pushed each other toward
conflict and escalation.
Mr. Pence, appearing in Mr. Trump’s place,
doubled down on recent criticism of China’s geopolitical strategies and
attacked the country’s “One Belt, One Road,” initiative — an infrastructure
plan financed by China that covers some 70 countries.
He urged Asian nations to work with the
United States, which, he said, would not saddle them with debt, an issue some
countries are facing as a result of their partnerships with Beijing.
Mr. Xi, speaking before Mr. Pence, insisted
that the criticism was misguided, arguing that China’s infrastructure plan would
be inclusive and beneficial.
“It will not close a door and create a small
circle,” Mr. Xi said. “It is not the so‐called
trap, as some people say. It is the sunshine avenue where China shares
opportunities with the world to seek common
development.”
Experts said the dueling arguments appeared
to have become more entrenched.
“It boils down to mutual intransigence
between the U.S. and China,” said Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security
College at the Australian National University.
Jonathan Pryke, a Pacific Rim expert at the
Lowy Institute, agreed, describing the result as raw “stubbornness.”
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Scott
Morrison of Australia tried to sound upbeat. “I think there is a lot more
progress being made here than I think is probably being acknowledged,” he said.
But by Sunday night, it was increasingly
difficult to see the summit meeting as anything but a continuation of
hostilities.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada was
among the first to make clear that the negotiations had not yielded a
resolution.
“I don’t think it will come as a huge
surprise that there are differing visions,” he said. “Those prevented there
from being a full consensus on the communiqué.”
@ The New York Times
